Chris Nolan won't change Bane's voice in 'The Dark Knight Rises'

If you happened to catch "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" on IMAX screens you likely watched the six-minute opening for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises." Fans have been salivating at the chance to get a sneak peek at one of next year's most anticipated blockbusters, but many came away with one major and unexpected question: "What was the Bane fellow saying again?"

Actor Tom Hardy, who plays Batman's latest adversary, is wearing a head piece that covers his entire mouth. Nolan and his sound designers have come up with an effect that plays with his voice as though it's being augmented by the mask, but it's much harder to understand than many anticipated -- except for Warner Bros. that is. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "sources" at the studio are very aware of the issue and would like Nolan to make changes. As of right now, Nolan is only planing to alter the sound "slightly" for the final cut. It's unclear whether Nolan is being stubborn about the issue or doesn't understand how frustrated fans may be when they see the final film. Because of the tremendous success of both "The Dark Knight" and "Inception," Warner Bros. is in a precarious position. On the one hand, they'd really like it changed, but Nolan has earned his creative freedom. Will public pressure force the studio to act on behalf of moviegoers across the nation?

Stay tuned...and, if you haven't caught the film's amazing new trailer - which showcases Bane's tough to hear voice, check it out below.

I think there's gonna be mixing done to make Bane's voice easier to hear, but obviously they're not going to revamp the entire approach and ADR the whole thing in a new accent. I really don't see why everyone's making a big deal out of this. This is what EQ's and sound engineer's are for.

I'm usually pretty good at making stuff out, even when others find it hard to understand, but I had to replay that 5 times to figure out what he said, and I'm not going to have that luxury in a theater :/

It was a bit difficult at first but you get used to his voice and are able to understand what he says throughout the movie, just like batman when no one had any clue what he was saying in the dark knight